This month, 16 Southcoast Health nurses with associate degrees completed orientation for a new program at UMass Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences to earn their Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing.

The newly launched program was made possible through direct funding secured by Senate Ways & Means Chair Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) to further develop the nursing and allied health workforce pipeline in the region.

“At a time when we face shortages in healthcare workers and opportunities for our communities to receive care, this innovative partnership addresses the needs of the South Coast and the commonwealth,” Rodrigues said.

The primary goal of the partnership is to advance the nursing educational attainment level among Southcoast Health’s clinical staff nurses to increase the number of clinical staff nurses with bachelor’s degrees within the system’s hospitals, and to increase the number of Southcoast Health clinical staff nurses who are educationally qualified to serve as preceptors for future nursing students applying for positions within the organization.

“Southcoast Health is proud and very excited to partner with UMass Dartmouth to educate and train the next generation of nurses and allied services workers,” said David O. McCready, president & CEO of Southcoast Health. “Collaborating on these important initiatives represents an investment in the future health and wellbeing of everyone in our community.”

Through this innovative partnership, these nurses will begin their advanced education at little to no cost this fall.